Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-06-17

1t was stated in yesterdays STAR that there is
in Jail at Salem, ILL.,, man who says his name Is
Caspar Straumbach, and that he committed the
murder at Railway, y. j., last March, that has 10.
come famous as the Railway murder mystery. In
his confession he says that he was steamship
steward by occupation, and that on the 18th or
last March he Was on a spree with a companion. q
Swede named John. The two went 10 Railway and
continued drinking together for some time and
were greatly under the influence OF liquor when
they saw young girl across the railway commons
carrying a small basket. The Swede, who seemed
TO know the girl, started toward her and she ran
He called to her several times, addressing her as
a IN telling eer TO ssop nd na1 he new Ma hs
his calls. he ran after her. just as he
overlook her he picked up piece Of
board and struck her on the side OF the head. She
fell and he struck her again. Just then Straum-
bach, according 10 his own story, came up and,
tuated by ferocity born OF the liquor be had been
drinking, pulled out his knife, and saying he
would do his part, stopped over the PROSTATE body
OF the girl and cut her throat. He insists that he
he touched her. After the killing, which, accord
ing TO the confession, was on the 18th OF last
Mach about pm but which "a according ss to the
CURED on March ~. the two men went directly 10
New York city, where they continued their spree
for several days. They then separated and only
met once afterward
CONSCIENCE STRICKEN.
Straumbach then intended to ship for another
voyage, but seems TO have been conscience
stricken, and imagined that the officers were on
his track. He went TO a friend, Mrs Augusta
Gardner, living at No. % Bayard street, New York,
and told her what he had done, as he felt as though
he could not keep his secret and was confident she
would not betray him. The idea finally struck
him that he would 60 West and try 10 make .
fresh start in life among strange people and In .
strange country, where he would be able 20 forget
his great crime Accordingly he started forward,
arriving at the little town OF Iuka, In Marion
County, ILL.,, where he sought work as q farm
laborer He got job. and soon betrayed himself
by his acts. seeing something was wrong with
him. his employer questioned him very closely as
TO MS antecedents and finally put the question as
10 what made him so nervous. To this STRATUM
bach replied that he had done something very
bad I'm New Jersey and his conscience tortured him.
The town constable, Jas W. Conley, WAS informed
undertook TO find out what IL all meant This was
week ago.
TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.
The man made confession OF which the sub
stance is given above. ON the strength OF this
confession he was taken into custody and jailed at
Salem, the county seat. The Illinois o1icials then
opened up communication with the authorities at
secrs 20 a ar as be General public Was cencerned
pending inquiry. Finally, being convinced they
had the right man. they let the facts leak out.
The Officers at Salem have received picture or
the murdered girl taken after she was dead.
They showed 1t TO the prisoner and he
mite information OF his companion on the
night OF the murder, but says in his trunk, at
No. 200 Chatham street, near the Bowery, New
York, is picture or the man. Straumbach halls
from Brooklyn. and is formerly OF Urich, Germany.
He has only been In the United states about a
year, and is about twenty-five years old, D feet
inches In height, weighs LBS pounds, has blue eyes,
heavy auburn hair and several weeks growth or
beard. AT Iuka he sought German and soon found
one named John Bowman and told him his mind
was troubled and he wanted TO tell him something.
His is a very straight story In the German Ian
guage and afterward he made a. written confession
IN German and swore toll.
Chief OF Police Tooker. OF Railway, n. J., left
there last night Tor Illinois. 10 bring back the man
Straumbach, the self-confessed murderer OF tbs
girl at Railway.
There is a disposition in Railway 10 discredit
date OF the crime nearly two weeks out OF place.
Straumbach tells OF selling the knife. when it Is
well known one bloody knife was found near the
scene. He says the girl he killed was seventeen
years old. The victim looked more like twenty
six. He tells OF having committed the deed at
O'Clock In the afternoon, which Is the worst point
The police Of New York seem to think there y
truth In Straumbach's statements. They fnyesta.
gated his record, and md that he confessed 70
killing the girl before he LEFT for the west.
TumbDed Down q shaft.
PHILADELPHIA LADY FALLS FIFTY FEET.
Mrs Grace Phillips, q young. comely and we'll
TODD widow lady, whose home Is st No. A2lS
Christian street, Philadelphia, went on 70 New
York wednesday, with her married sister TO do
some shopping. They put up at the Victoria
Hotel and about noon time Mrs. Phillips went out
TO visit the stores She called at the rooms OF the
London Toilet Bazaar, No. Al Union Square, and
after purchasing some small articles was directed
by saleslady to q small toilet room On the third
intending TO re-enter the bazaar, but mistook the
direction and opened the door OF a dumb waiter
shaft. used for drawing light freight 70 che upper
the basement, q distance OF nifty feet She n.
cedved . compound fracture OF the ieft leg ana
was taken TO the New York Hospital
RUINED BY TIE WHEAT PAMc-Isaac Laucla q